By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Thoko Didiza has been voted and elected as the new speaker of the National Assembly during the first sitting of the seventh administration on Friday afternoon.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who presided over the first sitting of the new National Assembly, announced that Didiza won the election, beating her only rival candidate Veronica Mente from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) by 284 votes to 49 votes from members of the National Assembly by secret ballot.
The total number of ballot papers issued was 341, and the total number of ballots counted was also 341. There were nine spoiled and invalid papers—eight spoiled and one invalid where a member asked for another paper.
She was nominated by the party’s outgoing chief whip, Pemmy Majodina.
Didiza is no stranger to presiding over the affairs of the assembly as she served as one of three house chairpersons between 2014 and 2019 during the term of the fifth parliament.
The fact that there were two nominees required the preparation of ballot papers so proceedings were suspended for lunch. MPs voted manually by secret ballot in the ballot booths that had been set up.
Following an objection from the EFF that the counting of votes would not be undertaken on the floor of the National Assembly and under observation of MPs, but in a separate counting room, Zondo agreed that each political party could send one observer to the counting room.
In her acceptance speech, Didiza paid homage to her party and other parties that voted for her.
“It does not mean that those who have voted differently are not in support of the work done,” she said. Didiza emphasised that the legislature’s work must be conducted in the interest of all South Africans.
“I also commit that I will work with all parties to ensure that the work of this Parliament reflects the will of the people of South Africa,” she stated.
“As a country and as a democratic state, we have an opportunity to express our views,” she added, highlighting the importance of participation in the democratic process.
Following her election, Didiza initiated the process to elect a Deputy Speaker. The EFF’s Floyd Shivambu nominated ATM’s Vuyo Zungula, while the DA nominated Annelie Lotriet for the position. A secret ballot was being prepared for the vote.
The MK did not participate in the proceedings and the swearing in of MPs and secretary to parliament Xolile George has indicated that this would happen later.